Posted on 05/19/2006 1:24:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
HOUSTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush has long opposed making English the country's national language, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said on Friday, the day after the Senate voted to do so.
The vote came in an amendment to proposed legislation overhauling U.S. immigration law and directed the government to "preserve and enhance" the role of English. Opponents said it could affect the status of some multilingual services offered by government organizations.
Adding to the confusion, the Senate also adopted a softer amendment calling English the "unifying language" of the United States. Senators take both versions into negotiations over a final bill with the U.S. House of Representatives.
Gonzales did not directly address Bush's position on the controversial amendment because the Senate has not yet voted on the whole bill. But he said that Bush has in the past rejected such efforts.
"The president has never supported making English the national language," Gonzales said after meeting with state and local officials in Texas to discuss cooperation on enforcement of immigration laws.
He said Bush has instead long supported a concept called "English-Plus," believing that it was good to be proficient in more than one language.
"English represents freedom in our country and anybody who wants to be successful in our country has a much better chance of doing so if they speak English," Gonzales said. "It is of course a common language."
But, Gonzales said, "I don't see the need to have laws or legislation that says English is the national language."
While visiting Arizona on Thursday to press his plan to send up to 6,000 National Guard troops to the Mexican border spoke of the need to unite Americans.
"We've got to honor the great American tradition of the melting pot," Bush said. "Americans are bound together by shared ideals and appreciation of our history, of respect for our flag and ability to speak the English language."
Intervening in a recent furor over a Spanish-language version of the national anthem released by Latin pop stars, Bush said that the "Star-Spangled Banner" should be sung in English.
The United States currently has no official language and the amendment was showing signs of further inflaming an already incendiary issue, with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada calling it "racist."
his man is really starting to scare the living daylights out of me!
"The reason Bush is so unpopular is that he's governing from the left."
Yet the Left never stops hating him any less. Reagan had it right. He knew nothing he did could stop the moonbats from hating him so he sided with the Right almost all the time.
Hey troll! Be very careful. Or you will be put on "the list" of thread hi-jackers. You have been duely warned! If you disagree with W, then you are a disloyal American and will be severly disciplined by the UN.
I think it did occur to them because they wrote the constitution for all people even though English was the prominent language it certainly wasn't the only language that all people where talking in.
This is not at all the story we got earlier where the Pres supported making English the National Language.
Point out the trolls to us.
Here is the new proof note due to go into circulation next week.
Oh. I think I do.
When there was all the hoop-la a few weeks ago over the National Anthem being sung in Spanish, President Bush came out PUBLICLY saying the National Anthem SHOULD BE SUNG IN ENGLISH. He stuck his foot in his mouth when it was learned that HE HAD SUNG IT IN SPANISH HIMSELF.
Heavens to Betsy! Horrors! The US government early in the 20th century authorized a translation of the anthem into Spanish. Just because he sang it once, in Spanish, does not make him a hypocrit for endorsing its singing in English. But I guess you are perfectly consistent in everything you say or do.
Now if he would have come out saying the National Anthem should be sung with the ORIGINAL WORDS that was wrote for the Anthem and not the changes the Spanish Version made, he wouldn't have been putting his foot in his mouth, but he didn't say that.
In posting about the proper use of the English language, it would help if you had a rudimentary command of English grammar.
Maybe he shouldn't have appointed liberals.
You have more faith in Reuters than I do.
I'll take Tony Snow's word that Bush supports the National Language legislation passed by the Senate, for now.
Bush needs to git a grip. He refuses to listen to the American public. Is he that blind and deaf, or is it he simply doesn't give a rat's @$$?
_________________________________________________
I think the latter.
"It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish."
Aeschylus (525 BC - 456 BC)
Hey, the Bushbackers say he doesn't respond to polls.
I'm starting to believe it...
>>If Clinton was the first black president, W is the first Mexican President..
Damn!
Great Tagline!
But I just changed mine and need to put it in later...
You and me, both.
Hey Dude, suggesting that GWB is some sort of traitor to this country used to be a cute form of junior high humor. But quite frankly, it is becoming a bit of a bore and a waste of bandwidth.
Yes he is. And Joe Six-Pack doesn't see it. Even here on FR, there are many who believe this as a minor inconvenience.
Rush or the leadership?
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